By Ndatenda Njanike (Press and Communications officer)
Zimbabweans were left in shock after a receipt that circulated on social media of a fine worth 100.000 rtgs for operating a generator.
The current electricity crisis has forced businesses and households to resort to alternative sources of power including generators and solar.
Zimbabwean laws have always contained the requirement for emissions licensing though. Section 64 of the Environmental Management Act on Licensing Emissions provides that:
“No owner or operator of a trade or any establishment shall emit a substance or energy which causes or is likely
to cause air pollution without an emission licence issued by the Board.”
The Act’s governing board, the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) also cleared the air stating that the licensing applies to commercial usage as stipulated in Section 64 of the Environmental Management Act [Chap 20:27] which states that:
“No owner or operator of a trade or any establishment shall emit a substance or energy which causes or is likely to cause air pollution without an emission license.”
“On that note, the Agency wants to implore members of the public to always look at the brighter side of this piece of legislative narrative which seeks to prevent air pollution and ensure members of the public enjoy access to a clean environment (air) which is not harmful to health as enshrined in the Constitution of Zimbabwe and the Environmental Management Act (Chapter 20:27),” said EMA.
EMA is a statutory body responsible for ensuring the sustainable management of natural resources and protection of the environment, the prevention of pollution and environmental degradation, and the preparation of Environmental Plans for the management and protection of the environment. It was established under the Environmental Management Act [Chapter 20:27] and enacted in 2002.
It is imperative for businesses to ensure that their activities do not pollute the environment. As Advocates4Earth we feel that is essential that emissions be regularized and licensed and taxed.
